Changes at the top at First Milk

FIRST MILK has announced an expansion of its executive management team by taking on Peter Humphreys, the former managing director at Eden Vale.

Mr Humphreys has moved to the dairy co-op as deputy chief executive, with a specific business development brief.

First Milk is already Britain‘s largest dairy co-op, with stakes in several processing businesses, including a number of specialist cheddar brands and the giant commodity plant at Westbury.

But it is dwarfed by the major dairy co-ops of Europe, such as Arla-Campina, Friesland Coberco of the Netherlands and the French Sodiaal.

John Duncan, First Milk‘s chief executive, said: “Peter‘s drive and knowledge, coupled with his proven international business development and strategic acquisition skills, will help to accelerate our ambitious growth plans.”

In a separate decision, David Young, the co-op‘s commercial director, has announced his retirement in January, after 32 years in the dairy industry.